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Maho Bay

BeachesSt. JohnLast verified October 30, 2026

Maho Bay

Maho Bay is a long, shallow beach on St. John's North Shore in Virgin Islands National Park, beside North Shore Road. The park calls it the place to go for sea turtles: green turtles graze the seagrass in the middle of the bay, most often in the early morning or late afternoon, and coral and fish line the western side toward the point shared with Cinnamon Bay. The calm, clear water suits families, snorkeling and paddleboarding, though a north swell can cloud it. There is no fee. Restrooms are at the western end, a large parking area is at the eastern end, and covered pavilions can be rented for parties and weddings. Vendors across the road sell food and drinks and rent snorkel gear, kayaks and paddleboards. Park only in marked spaces, do not touch turtles or coral, and leave pets and glass at home. No lifeguard is listed.

Services

  • No fee
  • Restrooms at the western end of the beach
  • Large parking area at the eastern end
  • Covered pavilions that can be rented for parties and weddings
  • Food, drinks and snorkel, kayak and paddleboard rentals from vendors across the road
  • Seagrass beds where green sea turtles feed
  • Dinghy tether for boats 16 feet or shorter

How we checked

Last verified on October 30, 2026. The business has not reviewed this listing.

Source: National Park Service pages https://www.nps.gov/places/maho-beach.htm (updated April 5, 2021), https://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm, https://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/snorkeling.htm, https://home.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/frequently-asked-questions.htm (updated December 5, 2024; concessions at Maho), https://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/fees.htm (updated September 29, 2026), https://www.nps.gov/viis/learn/management/compendium.htm (updated October 6, 2026) and the park alerts feed https://www.nps.gov/viis/park-alerts-viis.json (no closures posted), plus USVI Department of Tourism https://www.visitusvi.com/experience/top-st-john-beaches/ (rentals across the road, food vendors) and https://www.visitusvi.com/experience/hidden-underwater-gems/ (easy road access, calm water for families and beginners), all accessed 2026-10-30. Vendors can change, so confirm rentals before you go.

USVI Realty does not rank, rate or endorse the places and services in this directory. Hours, fees and rules change, so check the official source before you go.

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